Chrysanthemum plant named ‘PPP MIL PK05’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Chrysanthemum  plant cultivar is disclosed, characterized by large decorative type inflorescences, consistent flowering response to short days, blooming consistently after 49 days of short day length, pink two tone ray florets, free branching habit, and a consistent natural season flowering habit during early September.

Latin name of the genus and species: Chrysanthemum morifolium.

Variety denomination: ‘PPP MIL PK05’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar ‘PPP MIL PK05’ is a product of induced mutation of theparent Chrysanthemum plant variety ‘GEDI THREE MIL’, U.S. Plant patentapplication Ser. No. 11/118,273, using gamma ray treatment at a dose of20 Gy. The new cultivar was discovered and selected by Dirk Pieters inSeptember 2003 in Oostnieuwkerke, Belgium.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘PPP MIL PK05’ by terminalcuttings and tissue culture was performed in Oostnieuwkerke, Belgium,and has shown that the unique features of this new cultivar are stableand reproduced true to type on successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘PPP MIL PK05’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘PPP MIL PK05.’ These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘PPP MIL PK05’ as a new and distinctChrysanthemum cultivar:

-   -   1. Pink two-tone decorative type inflorescence;    -   2. Consistent flowering response to short days, blooming        consistently after 49 days of short day length;    -   3. Free branching habit; and    -   4. Consistent natural season flowering habit in early September.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘PPP MIL PK05’ are similar to plants of theparent variety, ‘GEDI THREE MIL’ in most horticultural characteristics,however the new cultivar ‘PPP MIL PK05’ is taller than the parent andhas more ray florets. Additionally, the new variety ‘PPP MIL PK05’ hasdifferent color ray florets than the parent ‘GEDI THREE MIL’.

In comparison to the commercially available variety ‘GEDI TWO CAN’ (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 14,474), ‘PPP MIL PK05’ has a darker center in the bloom.Additionally, the new variety ‘PPP MIL PK05’ naturally bloomsapproximately fifteen days earlier than the comparable variety. Further,the new variety ‘PPP MIL PK05’ has a larger diameter inflorescence andhas more inflorescence per flowering branch than the comparable variety‘GEDI TWO CAN.’

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘PPP MIL PK05’ grown in a 2 gallon container. Onecutting was used in the pot, planted mid May and grown under outdoorfield conditions. The colors are as nearly true as is reasonablypossible in a color representation of this type.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘PPP MIL PK05’ plants grown in Oxnard, VenturaCounty, Calif., during the month of September 2004. The growingtemperature ranged from 12° C. to 15° C. at night to 12° C. to 20° C.during the day. Measurements and numerical values represent averages oftypical flowering types.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum morifolium cultivar ‘PPP MIL    PK05.’-   Commercial classification: Garden-type Chrysanthemum.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to rooting: 7 to 14 days at approximately 21° C.-   Root description: Fine, fibrous.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Mounding herbaceous perennial.-   Height: Approximately 31 cm.-   Plant spread: Approximately 36 cm.-   Growth rate: Moderate.-   Branching characteristics: Free Branching.-   Length of lateral branches: Approximately 27 cm.-   Number of leaves per lateral branch: Approximately 25.-   Age of plant described: Approximately 148 days.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate single.        -   Average length.—Approximately 6.9 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 5.2 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Cuspidate.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Attachment.—Stalked.        -   Margin.—Palmately lobed and toothed.        -   Texture of top surface.—Lightly pubescent.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Lightly pubescent.        -   Leaf internode length.—Approximately 1.1 cm.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near Green 137A. Young            foliage under side: Near Green 137B. Mature foliage upper            side: Near Green 137A. Mature foliage under side: Near Green            138A.        -   Venation.—Type: Palmately net. Venation color upper side:            Near Yellow Green 144C. Venation color under side: Near            Green 138B.-   Petiole:    -   -   Average length.—Approximately 2.7 cm.        -   Color.—Near Green 138A.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.3 cm.

BLOOM

-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Flowering habit.—Induced by darkness period greater than            13.5 hours, approximately 49 days of appropriate day length            required to induce and develop blooms.        -   Inflorescence form.—Decorative.        -   Natural flowering season.—Approximately the first two weeks            of September.        -   Number of inflorescences per lateral branch.—Approximately            25.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—Approximately 6.9 cm.        -   Inflorescence depth.—3.4 cm.        -   Inflorescence longevity on plant.—Approximately 29 days.        -   Persistence.—Persistent.-   Ray florets:    -   -   Appearance.—Matte.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Average number of ray florets per inflorescence.—230.        -   Shape.—Oblong.        -   Aspect.—Flat.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Length.—Approximately 3.4 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 1 cm.        -   Color.—Upper surface at first opening: Near Red-Purple 59D.            Upper surface at maturity: Near Red-Purple 62C. Upper            surface at fading: Near Red-Purple 62D. Under surface at            first opening: Near Red-Purple 64B. Under surface at            maturity: Near Yellow-White 158D. Under surface at fading:            Near Red-Purple 68C.-   Disc florets:    -   -   Appearance.—Shiny.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Average number of florets per disc.—Approximately 10.        -   Shape.—Cylindric.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Average length.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 0.1 cm.        -   Color.—At first opening: Near Yellow-Green 154D. At            maturity: Near Yellow 4C. At fading: Near Yellow-Orange 16B.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—At terminal end (shortest): Approximately 4.8 cm. At            lateral end (longest): Approximately 8.2 cm.        -   Angle to stem.—Acute.        -   Strength.—Moderate.        -   Color.—Near Green 138B.        -   Habit.—Upright.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Surface texture.—Lightly pubescent.-   Inflorescence bud:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 1 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.9 cm.        -   Form.—Globular.        -   Color.—Near Red-Purple 58A.-   Involucral bracts (phyllaries):    -   -   Appearance.—Matte.        -   Texture.—Lightly pubescent.        -   Number.—Approximately 40.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Length.—0.9 cm.        -   Width.—0.8 cm.        -   Color.—Upper side: Near Green 138A. Under side: Near Green            138A.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Ray florets:    -   -   Number of pistils per floret.—1.        -   Stigma shape.—2 branched.        -   Stigma color.—Near Yellow 7A.        -   Style color.—Near Yellow 2C.        -   Style length.—0.8 cm.        -   Stamens.—Absent.-   Disc florets:    -   -   Number of pistils per floret.—1.        -   Stigma shape.—Two branched.        -   Stigma color.—Near Yellow 2C.        -   Style length.—0.3 cm.        -   Style color.—Near Yellow-Green 154D.        -   Number of stamens per floret.—Approximately 5.        -   Anther shape.—Tubular.        -   Anther color.—Near Yellow 12C.        -   Pollen color.—No pollen detected.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    diseases or pests has been observed in this variety.-   Drought tolerance/cold tolerance: Flowering plants are hardy to low    temperatures about −2° C. Non-flowering plants are hardy in the    approximate range of 3° C. to −6° C., depending upon duration of    cold and amount of moisture in the soil. With adequate water plants    are hardy to a high temperature of 45° C.-   Fruit/seed production: Not observed because commercially the plants    are discarded or the flowers removed before seed set occurs.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘PPP MILPK05’ as herein illustrated and described.